PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:
July 26, 2012
TRAGEDY IN COLORADO SHOCKS NATION
Last Friday the nation was again shocked and cast in mourning over a
tragic shooting that took place in a movie theatre in Aurora,
Colorado, killing twelve and wounding many others, some seriously.
Archbishop Oshagan asks that we continue to include the families of
the dead in our prayers, as well as the wounded in hospitals. May our
All-Merciful Lord extend His tender mercy and healing hand on those
who are hurting in body and soul in the aftermath of another senseless
act of violence.
PRELATE AND VICAR VISIT NEWLY-APPOINTED
LEBANESE CONSUL GENERAL IN NEW YORK
Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan visited the new Consul
General of Lebanon, His Excellency Majdi Ramadan, this week and
welcomed him as he began his new position at the Lebanese Consulate in
New York.
Prelate and Vicar congratulated the Consul General and expressed their
appreciation for the cordial and brotherly cooperation the Consulate
has always provided. They discussed the forthcoming pontifical visit
of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of
Cilicia. Mr. Ramadan asked the clergymen to keep him informed of the
visit as he looked forward to welcoming His Holiness upon his arrival.
Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan with the new Consul General
of Lebanon, H.E. Majdi Ramadan, at the Lebanese Consulate in New York.
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE
COMPLETES 26TH YEAR
`I think Datev is not only a place for meeting new people, it is also
a place for worship and education,’ said third-year student of the
Datev Institute Celina Bozoian. Worship, education, fellowship=80’this
has become a slogan for the students of St. Gregory of Datev
Institute, a summer Christian education program for youth ages 13-18,
sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC).
Indeed, worship, education, and fellowship-these three objectives
shaped and governed the daily schedule of the sixty-five students from
nine Eastern Prelacy parishes and twenty clergymen and lay leaders,
who gathered at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, for the 26th annual Summer Christian studies program,
under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan….to read more
click here ().
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, with Prelacy clergy, instructors and
participants of the Datev Institute Summer Program.
PONTIFICAL VISIT NATIONAL STEERING
COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON SATURDAY
The National Steering Committee for the forthcoming Pontifical Visit
of His Holiness Aram I to the Eastern Prelacy will meet Saturday at
the Prelacy offices in New York City, under the presidency of
Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate.
The co-chairmen of the National Steering Committee are Ms. Karen
Jehanian, a member of St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, and former
secretary
of the Executive Council and Jack Mardoian, Esq., a member of All
Saints Church, Chicago, and a former chairman of the Executive
Council.
Visit the Prelacy web page for details about the Pontifical Visit. New
material is being posted regularly and by next week there will be
photographs and videos.
A RESCUED BRICK FROM PHILLY CHURCH FINDS A HOME
A rescued brick from the old St. Gregory Church in downtown
Philadelphia has found a home in the new St. Gregory Church on Ridge
Avenue built in the late 1960s, and recently enhanced with a beautiful
addition.
The old church at 16th and Oxford Streets in downtown Philadelphia was
a beautiful structure. (Note from editor: The large stained glass
windows were the most beautiful I have ever seen!) About a decade
ago-long after the Armenians had sold the structure-two sisters, Mary
and
Viola Sookiasian, faithful members of the St. Gregory community were
watching a news report about a church at 16th and Oxford Street being
on fire. They drove to the location and were able to retrieve one
brick from the ruins. In accordance with their wishes, upon their
death the brick was to be given to Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor
of St. Gregory as a memento of the
original St. Gregory Church. Der Nerses decided to frame and display
the brick and its story for all to see and be inspired.
An etching of the old St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia.
The brick mounted on a commemorative display.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, July 29, Third Sunday of Transfiguration of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, are Isaiah 5:1-10; 1 Corinthians 6:18-7:11;
Matthew 19:3-12.
Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, `Is
it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?’ He answered,
`Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning
`made them male and female,’ and said, `For this reason a man shall
leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two
shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one
flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’
They said to him, `Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate
of dismissal and to divorce her?’ He said to them, =80=9CIt was
because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce
your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another
commits adultery.’
His disciples said to him, `If such is the case of a man with his
wife, it is better not to marry.’ But he said to them, =80=9CNot
everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is
given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there
are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are
eunuchs who have made
themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone
accept this who can.’ (Matthew 19:3-12)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
().
SONS AND GRANDSONS OF ST. GREGORY
This Saturday, July 28, the Armenian Church commemorates the sons and
grandsons of St. Gregory the Illuminator, namely, Sts. Aristakes,
Vrtanes, Housik, Grigoris, and Daniel (who was not related, but was a
distinguished and favorite student of St. Gregory). All of them
continued the work of
St. Gregory, preaching the word of Christ to pagans at great personal
peril.
Gregory had two sons, Aristakes and Vrtanes. Aristakes, the younger
son, succeeded Gregory as Catholicos and was martyred around 333
AD. Aristakes represented the Armenian Church at the first ecumenical
council at Nicaea in 325. It was at this council that the Nicene
Creed, recited to this day during the Divine Liturgy, was written and
adopted. Vrtanes, at this time over 70 years old, was called upon to
become catholicos and served for eight years until his death. Vrtanes
had two sons, Grigoris and Housig. Grigoris preached in the northern
provinces of Armenia (present day Georgia) where he was martyred in
347. Daniel, who as noted above was not related to Gregory is included
with the sons and grandsons. He was chosen to succeed Housig as
catholicos, but never actually served as he too was martyred on year
later in 348.
NEWS FROM THE CATHOLICOSATE
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT OF ARTSAKH
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia extended
congratulations to the President of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), Pago
Sahakian, on his reelection. The Catholicos commended the President
for his achievements during his term in office, especially for the
structural organization of the Republic, its economic growth, and his
advocacy on international
and local levels for the self-determination of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh.
CATHOLICOS ARAM ADDRESSES THE SOCIETY OF ORIENTAL LITURGY
His Holiness Aram I was invited to address the fourth conference of
the Society of Oriental Liturgy last week. In his speech the
Catholicos stressed the pivotal importance of liturgy for the life and
mission of the church. He highlighted a number of points related to
liturgy as the source and expression of the church’s faith, noting
that church fathers have given a particular importance to liturgy in
their theological reflections
and biblical exegesis.
He also spoke about some aspects that have been on the ecumenical
agenda, specifically, the divergence of an eucharist-centered liturgy
and pulpit-centered liturgy; liturgy-centered churches and the
missionary vocation of the church; and the inter-connection of
liturgy, mission, and diakonia.
This Week in Armenian History
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Founding of the Writers Union of Armenia (August 1-5, 1934)
After the establishment of the Soviet regime, various literary
societies existed in Armenia for short periods of time. The Writers
Union of Armenia, as a component of the all-Soviet Writers Union, was
founded along with the latter during the first Congress of Soviet
Armenian Writers, held in Yerevan on August 1-5, 1934.
The first president of the Writers Union was literary critic Drastamat
Ter-Simonyan, and its secretaries, poet Vahram Alazan and critics
Harutiun Lazarian. The advisors were: Alexander Shirvanzade, Yeghishe
Charents, Axel Bakunts, Azat Vshtuni, Derenik Demirjian, Mkrtich
Janan, Stepan Zorian, Gurguen Mahari, Norayr Dabaghian, Nayiri Zarian
and Hajie Jendi. Four of the thirteen members of the board died during
the Stalinist purges of 1937-1938 (Ter-Simonyan, Charents, Bakunts,
and Janan) and four others were deported to Siberia and returned more
than fifteen years later (Mahari, Alazan, Lazarian, and Tapaghian).
The second Congress of Soviet Armenian Writers was held in 1946 and
elected poet Avetik Isahakian as president (1946-1957). The position
of president was eliminated afterwards. Critic Eduard Topchyan was
elected first secretary of the Union in 1959 and held his position
until 1976. He was succeeded by novelist Vardgues Petrosyan
(1976-1988), who in 1986 was elected president. However, at the onset
of Mikhail Gorbachov’s `perestroika’ (restructuring) in Armenia, he
was replaced by poet Hrachya Hovhannisian during an extraordinary
congress of the board of the Union in January 1988.
Another poet, Vahagn Davtian, became president of the Writers Union
from 1990-1994. He was followed by poet Razmik Davoyan (1994-1996) and
novelist Hrand Matevosyan (1996-2001). The current president is
translator and journalist Levon Ananyan, who was elected in 2001.
The Writers Union, which is directed by a Board of Trustees (51
members) and an Executive Board (19 members), has its headquarters at
the Writers’House (3 Marshal Baghramyan Avenue, Yerevan). Currently
the Writers Union has 368 members from Armenia, 43 members from
Artsakh (Karabagh), and 83 members from seventeen countries of the
Diaspora (including 22 members from the United States), making a total
of 494 members.
The Writers Union of Armenia building in central Yerevan.
()
BE A FRIEND ON FACEBOOK
In conjunction with the upcoming visit of His Holiness Aram I to the
Eastern Prelacy we have created a Facebook page that can be found by
searching on `Armenian Prelacy Eastern US.’ We are in the process of
populating the page and will soon begin adding content on a daily
basis. Find us and friend us.
2012 OLYMPICS IN LONDON
With the summer Olympics set to begin tomorrow in London, we are
reminded that it was exactly one hundred years ago at the 1912 Summer
Olympics in Stockholm, that Jim Thorpe became the greatest American
Olympian of all time. Thorpe’s epic performance in the 15 events of
the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 games made
history. Unfortunately, the Olympic
committee took away his medals and expunged his historic achievements
from
the official records when they found out that he had supposedly broken
the
rules of amateurism because he played minor-league baseball in
1909. Thorpe was a Native American and there was a lot of prejudice
against him and one can’t help to believe that this played a part in
the committee’s decision since there were other Olympians who had
played in other sports who were not penalized. And these days the
Olympians make `real money’ with endorsements without hurting their
amateur status. In 1982 the Olympics Committee, after years of growing
public outrage, gave
the Thorpe family `replica medals.’ However, the official records were
not changed. Perhaps on this 100th anniversary it is time to do the
right thing and give back his `real medals’ to his family and to
officially recognize and record the extraordinary achievements of Jim
Thorpe at the 1912 Olympics.
Jim Thorpe during a discus hurling competition.
THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS: A BEST SELLER ALREADY
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian will enter the New York Times
Best Seller list on August 5 as number seven. The novel continues to
receive extraordinary praise and was selected as the Book of the Week
on Oprah.com. The author is currently on a three week book tour to
more than twenty
cities. He will be at the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey,
next Thursday, August 2, at an event sponsored by the Armenian
National Committee, the Hovnanian School, and Doubleday.
You can purchase the book at the Prelacy Bookstore
([email protected]) or any bookstore.
()
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 5-Annual Shish Kebob Picnic and Grape Blessing, St. Paul
Armenian Church, 645 South Lewis Ave., Waukegan, Illinois, 12 noon to
4 pm. Armenian dinners and pastries available. For information: Arda
Haroian (847)
445-7934.
August 5-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, presents
Blessing of Madagh and Grapes, under the auspices of His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, and participation of the pastors of the
New England area churches, at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts,
noon to 6 pm. Music by Michael Gregian and Ensemble.
August 7-David Papazian Memorial Golf Tournament, sponsored by St.
Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, at Highfields Golf &
Country Club, Grafton, Massachusetts. Breakfast 8 am, tee time 9:30
am. Call Hagop Antranigian, 508-473-7695 for reservations and details.
August 10-12-Armenian Fest and Blessing of the Grapes, All Saints
Church, Glenview, Illinois. For information: 847-998-1989.
August 12-Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Blessing of the
Grapes, and Indoor Picnic, following the Divine Liturgy at
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, under the auspices of
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor. Organized and prepared by the
Ladies Guild. Activities for
kids of all ages; food available for sale. Admission (including raffle
ticket), $5.00; children free. For information: 212-689-5880.
August 12-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Feast of the
Assumption of the Holy Virgin and Blessing of Grapes, traditional
madagh of Harissa.
August 12-Holy Trinity Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester,
Massachusetts, Annual Church Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes, at
noon on the church grounds. Enjoy delicious Armenian food, including
Shish Kebab, Losh Kebab, and Chicken Kebab dinners, along with kheyma
and homemade desserts. Listen and dance to Armenian music by DJ
Shaheen, sign-up for backgammon tournament, or let children play on
bouncy house. Free parking and admission. For information:
508-852-2414.
August 19-Annual church picnic and Blessing of the Grapes,
St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Festivities
start at noon on
the church grounds; free parking and admission; shish kebab, losh
kebab, chicken kebab, khema and homemade desserts. Music by John
Berberian and Ensemble. For information: 508-234-3677.
September 16-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Annual Church
Picnic, on the church grounds, noon to 6 pm. Best kebabs, cold beer
and tan, watermelon, home-made sweets, special `Kid-Zone’ activities
for children. Also Armenian music and dancing, raffle with great
prizes. Takeout available all day. Admission free. For information
718-224-2275.
October 4-31-Pontifical Visit to the Eastern Prelacy by His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia.
November 10-Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of
New Jersey and Vanush Khanamiryan Dance Academy of New York, present
Inga
& Anush with performances by Hamazkayin Nayiri Dance Ensemble of New
Jersey, Hamazkayin Meghri Dance Ensemble of Pennsylvania, and Vanush
Khanamiryan
Dance Academy of New York and Connecticut. Felician College, 262 South
Main Street, Lodi, New Jersey, 5 pm. For reservations ($35 – $70) and
information: 201-739-9557, 201-684-1509, or
().
November 11-Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of
Boston and Vanush Khanamiryan Dance Academy proudly present Inga &
Anush with performance by Erebouni Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin
Boston. Shaw Auditorium, Watertown High School, Watertown,
Massachusetts, 5 pm. For reservations ($35 – $45) and information:
617-331-0426 or
().
November 18-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, 50th anniversary
jubilee.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add
[email protected] to your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
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